On a late November day in 1979, an article in the Hazleton, Pennsylvania, Standard-Speaker read:
“The Greater Hazleton Athletic Club Raiders captured the championship of the Lehigh Valley Midget Football League’s 125-pound class by edging Alton Park by a 7-6 score on a mud-slicked Easton High School field.”
“The Raiders concluded their season with a 10-0-1 record and avenged the only blemish on their season with the victory. The Comets had held Hazleton to a 6-6 tie earlier in the season.”
Most people didn’t realize that the article chronicled an unlikely end to an incredible season — and a fantastic journey. A journey full of obstacles, dotted with episodes of individual inner strength and commitment, as well as solidarity among a group of young men trying to find their way to adulthood. This was my team, and it was this journey that inspired the story told on the pages of this book.
Book Overview
In a small Pennsylvania town where coal mines once dominated and Friday nights still mean something, one man decides to build more than a football league—he sets out to build hope.
When Cy Mozatta volunteers to build a youth football program, he expects a few kids, a few practices, and maybe a few headaches. What he doesn’t expect is how deeply the project will pull him in—or how much the community needs it. With worn down fields, mismatched equipment, and a town not used to change, Cy finds himself fighting for more than a season. He’s fighting for a sense of belonging, pride, and possibility.
As the Raiders take shape, friendships form, families connect, and young players discover confidence they never knew they had. Among them is Tom Mozatta, Cy’s quiet, observant son, whose own coming of age unfolds in the shadow of the league’s birth. Through early evening practices, late night planning, and the unpredictable chaos of youth sports, father and son learn that leadership isn’t loud—it’s steady. And sometimes the smallest victories are the ones that matter most.
Inspired by true events, Mighty, Mighty, Raiders is a heartfelt, nostalgic journey into the power of community, the resilience of kids, and the unexpected ways ordinary people can change the world around them. It’s a story about football, yes—but even more, it’s a story about second chances, quiet heroes, and the moments that shape us.
Author Insights
A heartfelt coming of age story about loyalty, resilience, and the moments that shape who we become.
Purchase Options
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